Evaluation of the Complexity of Postoperative Care Following Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Surgery

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complexity of postoperative care required by women who had undergone breast or gynecologic cancer surgery, using the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28. An observational, longitudinal study was carried out on 83 women admitted postoperatively to the Intensive Care Unit of the Center for Women's Integrated Healthcare. The results of this study show that women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer had a significantly higher mean Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 score compared with women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer (P = .01). Women who underwent gynecologic surgery had a significantly higher mean Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 score than women who had breast surgery (P = .03). Most of the activities performed by staff during the postoperative intensive care unit period involved only basic care procedures. Only advanced age and hypertension were related to death during the postoperative period. In conclusion, from the nursing standpoint, the complexity of care required in the intensive care unit during the postoperative period was moderate. Women aged 80 years or older were at the highest risk of death during this period.